Maker?s Mark new CEO, Rob Samuels, in a barrel warehouse at the distillery in Loretto, Ky. By John Rott, The Courier-Journal

Written by

Joseph Lord
jlord@courier-journal.com

Rob Samuels is a living encyclopedia of bourbon. In conversation, he'll mix tidbits of history, being sure to note dates and names.

He should.

Samuels is a scion of the bourbon industry. His family has been distilling whiskey for at least 500 years; the last three generations of Samuels have served up Maker's Mark, which, with its iconic red wax seal, has been ingrained in Kentucky's sense of identity since the 1950s. ...